Panic!!

[mumzieuk]

Hi all,

My daughter and I have taken on an allotment (but using the old man to do most of the digging) hee hee

I have brought sooooooo many books and magazines - only ended up confusing myself - so guess what - I am going to do it by trial and error - keep a diary of what I do and establish where I go wrong!

Unless anyone has any pointers?

Do we follow magazines and books to the letter?

Fleece, poly tunnels, composting, treating the soil aaaghhhhhhh - can't I just plonk it in and see what happens???????

[smallblueplanet]

....can't I just plonk it in and see what happens???????

Yeah, why not!

Hope you enjoy the process and the veggies.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Welcome to the Vine, Mumzieuk - and well done on getting a lottie!

*waves across Barr Beacon

First off, make a list of what you want to grow. Just because you have the room to grow eg brussel sprouts, doesn't automatically mean that you miraculously now adore them.

Assuming that you havent got the world's biggest bramble patch (in this case, torch the lot, cover with carpet and retire to the pub for approx 1 year - NO!)

Split list into 4 sections called 'potatoes', 'roots', 'peas/beans' and 'everything else.

Now split your lottie into an area for compost heap/shed/fruit bushes/permanent crops and the rest into 4 areas to match your plan.

Plant to match plan.

Don't worry too much about manure/lime and stuff this year as you don't know what happened before.

Suggest you stick around here - it's terrific fun - use the mag as a guide to 'what/when' and - personal opinion only - study John Seymour's 'Self Sufficiency' as I think it is the best one.

Above all, enjoy yourselves!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine. I would definitely recommend keeping a good diary of what you plant, when and where - brill to refer to next year. Have fun - after all that is why you got a lottie isn't it?

[zazen999]

Or

Use the first year as the experimental one and let yourselves make some mistakes - to be honest you'd be better off just keeping an eye on the 'what I did today' thread and see who is planting what in your area [midlands] - and when it coincides with something you want to grow - chuck it in and see what occurs.

Only one tip from me really, and that's not to sow the full packet at once; who needs 400 parsnips in a whole winter?

Apart from that - Hazel has it sown up!

[Flummery]

Do what you want - grow what you like. There is such a thing as too much information! Some things won't survive but if you make notes you'll end up knowing why. Trial and error is sometimes a hard way to learn but by heck you remember the lessons! We all started off knowing nothing so don't be afraid to ask. Good luck with the growing. I like digging - I'd be cross if my old man nicked the best job!

[mumzieuk]

The allotment

Hi All,
Thanks for the replies.
Attached a couple of piccies of the allotment - coming on slowly but surely.

I do know the soil is really great (loads of lovely worms)- can just feel the difference from the soil in my own back yard!

Planted my first early potatoes today - rightly or wrongly - but do know I will have to cover the shoots with any late frosts!

Is it breaking and entering if we take the locks off any sheds on the site?

Don't know if there is anything in them - but fed up of having to lug the garden tools back and forth

[Flummery]

Whoo, that looks great! Is that shadow in 2nd picture you?
Sez has just taken on an allotment and broken into his shed and I know Seashorse had to do the same. Maybe your site secretary can let you know if there are any rules but you won't be the first if you do break in!

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Mumsieuk. Good looking lottie you have there. I just grow in my own garden. I would say, just apply some common sense, and beyond that, for your fiest year, just grow what you like where you like. Most of it will get on fine. Keep notes of what you planted where and when and how it did. That way you can learn for next year. Good luck with the project.

[deezyb]

Welcome to the vine also Mumsieuk. Allotment looks great, like Alice I grow veg in my garden! I have kept last year's mini plan to follow (or not) as the case might be (!) - but definitely helped in planning what I am growing this year! good luck with your first season and keep us posted with how you get on. everyone really helpful here.

[mumzieuk]

Whoo, that looks great! Is that shadow in 2nd picture you?
Sez has just taken on an allotment and broken into his shed and I know Seashorse had to do the same. Maybe your site secretary can let you know if there are any rules but you won't be the first if you do break in!

Yeh - fat mama on mobile taking photo is me - although I must say I did dig the right hand side of the allotment - taking a peek tomorrow - if the last owner doesn't want em we will offer a fair price - or he can just dismantle them and take them away.

Thought we had thieving neighbours the other week - all my chitting potatoes were either gone or on the floor - shouted a lot - until I realised we had had an invasion of RATS who had nicked the lot - since blocked up the hole and now know NOT to store my produce in the potting shed!!

[Professor Peabody]

I only joined the forum yesterday and am impressed by how friendly everyone is so thought that I would also say hi to a fellow newbie.

Am so jealous as my lottie resembled the amazon rain forest when I took it on!! Our biggest cretaure issue is urban foxes, no rats so far fingers crossed.

[yoanbob]

Hi mumsieuk
I think you will do really well with your plan, just make a note of what worked and what didnt and revise next year.
can I borrow your man to do my lottie too?

[stormin97]

Hi mumsieuk

Like you, I am a newbie to this forum but there is lots of good advice to be had, every every where you look.

I can only echo the previous comments and say grow what YOU like and only sufficient for your needs (last year I had the problem that every one has, what do I do with all these corgettes?)

As far as growing stuff, it's good to remember that it's part of nature that EVERYTHING(including seeds) has a built in survival instinct, so whatever you plant will try it's very best to succeed so long as you can provide the basics.

Any problems you might have, it's always good to know that someone on here will have a 'coping strategy'.